MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2012
"As truck drivers continue to struggle to find safe and secure parking spaces daily, one major truck stop chain is rolling out a new pay-to-park solution at some of its locations around the country starting Nov. 1.
TravelCenters of America is the operator of TA and Petro Stopping Centers branded travel centers. Tom Liutkus, the company’s vice president of marketing and public relations, told Land Line that the average cost for drivers to reserve a spot using the “Reserve-It” parking system will range from $7 to $12 per spot. Drivers with oversize loads will be required to pay for two spaces.
“The prices range generally by site based on total number of spaces, how many reserve spaces and how quickly the lot historically fills,” he said.
Liutkus said the system will be available at 48 TAs and Petro sites on Nov. 1, with another 26 opening by the end of 2012. The participating sites will set aside approximately 5 percent of their spaces for the Reserve-It program.
Each time drivers want to reserve a space, they must call 1-855-VIP-PARK or notify the fuel desk at the site and have their credit card handy. Liutkus said drivers’ credit card information will not be kept on file, and they will be asked each time for their credit card information.
He said the check-in time for drivers is 4 p.m., who then have the space until 3 p.m. the following day."